What happens to users when you migrate to Channel Permissions?
Moving to Channel Permissions changes how access is managed, not who currently has it.
Is this your situation?
You are about to migrate a Brand Account to channel permissions and want to know what happens to the people who already have access. You want to know whether anyone loses access or gains control during the move.
What it is
Channel permissions give other users access to a channel through specific roles, managed in YouTube Studio. When you migrate, existing Brand Account users are copied into channel permissions. Before these copied users become active, the permission level must be manually set and the invite must be sent. Control shifts from Brand Account role assignment to permissions set within YouTube Studio. A Brand Account must already exist before opting into channel permissions.
How YouTube handles this
- Existing users are copied into the new system, not dropped from it.
- Copied users stay inactive until you set a permission level and send the invite.
- Invited users can manage the channel on YouTube and YouTube Studio, on computer and mobile.
- Invited users cannot manage the channel through YouTube APIs.
- Access is managed exclusively through YouTube Studio once migrated.
Side by side
| Aspect | Before migration | After migration |
|---|---|---|
| Access model | Brand Account roles assign access. | Permissions set in YouTube Studio control access. |
| Existing users | Hold a Brand Account role. | Copied into channel permissions. |
| Activation | Not applicable. | Needs a set permission level and a sent invite. |
| Where access is managed | Brand Account section of Google Account. | YouTube Studio exclusively. |
| API access | Not stated by YouTube | Invited users cannot manage the channel via YouTube APIs. |
| Decision to migrate | Not applicable. | The primary owner of the Brand Account can decide this. |
Common mistakes
- Assuming copied users are active A copied user has no access until a permission level is set and sent.Why it happens: The copy step looks complete, but activation is separate.Already happened: Check channel permissions to see who needs an invite.
- Expecting API access to carry over Invited users cannot manage the channel through YouTube APIs.Why it happens: Channel permissions access is managed exclusively through YouTube Studio.
- Looking outside YouTube Studio for access controls Access is managed exclusively through YouTube Studio once migrated.Why it happens: You expect the old controls to still apply here.Already happened: See Brand Account roles vs Channel Permissions for where each applies.
Quick reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do existing users lose access? | They are copied into channel permissions. |
| Are copied users active right away? | No, a permission level must be set and an invite sent. |
| Who decides whether to migrate? | The primary owner of the Brand Account can decide to use channel permissions. |
| Where is access managed after migration? | YouTube Studio exclusively. |
| Can invited users use YouTube Studio on mobile? | Yes, on both computer and mobile. |
| Can invited users use YouTube APIs? | No, they cannot manage the channel via YouTube APIs. |
| Does a Brand Account have to exist first? | Yes, before opting into channel permissions. |
| How does each invited user accept access? | They receive an email to accept the invite. |
Frequently asked questions
Will my current editors and managers disappear after migration?
Existing Brand Account users are copied into channel permissions, not removed.
Why doesn't a copied user have access yet?
The permission level must be manually set and the invite must be sent before they become active.
Who chooses whether the channel uses channel permissions at all?
The primary owner of the Brand Account can decide to use channel permissions in YouTube Studio or directly on YouTube.
Can an invited user manage the channel through an API?
No, invited users cannot manage the channel through YouTube APIs.
Keeping track of who has access
Confusion about who has access builds once roles move between systems and invites sit unsent. Delvia gives you one place to see where every person's access stands.
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